Saya Nei - Thailand

During the summer of 2025, I had the opportunity of a lifetime through Global Programs to travel with one of my classmates to Thailand, where I spent two weeks at the People and Animal Thailand clinic in Cha-Am and one week at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand organization.

For the first two weeks, I got to work at the People and Animal Thailand (PAT) clinic in the town called Cha-Am. I had the incredible opportunity to actively contribute to the care of stray cats and dogs in a nonprofit spay and neuter non-profit organization. This clinic works tirelessly to humanely manage the overpopulation of street animals in the local community by providing essential surgeries like spaying and neutering, vaccination, and general medical care. They also provide preventative care such as rabies vaccines to ensure that both the animals and the people of Thailand are safe. Each day, I assisted with prepping patients for surgery, including administering vaccines, performing essential prep work, and helping monitor animals during procedures. I gained valuable hands-on experience placing intravenous catheters and endotracheal tubes, which are critical skills in veterinary surgical care.

Beyond the clinic work, we also walked the neighborhood feeding and caring for the local stray dogs. Part of my responsibility was to identify these animals and take photographic records of those needing medical or surgical care to be referred back to the clinic. This system ensured that animals received the attention they required while maintaining accurate community animal records. I was struck by the community's compassion and the clinic’s efficient use of resources, such as their recycling of vaccine bottles for each patient while maintaining strict sterilization to minimize waste. They also implemented an intelligent tagging system, such as ear clipping and tattooing, to track which animals had already been spayed or neutered — an impressive model of sustainability and preventive welfare care. 

Following these two weeks, I spent a week at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) elephant sanctuary where I developed a newfound appreciation for these majestic creatures and their cultural significance to the Thai people. My daily duties included preparing banana balls as treats, harvesting banana leaves and trunks for food, and creating enrichment activities involving fruit, tires, and ropes placed strategically within the enclosure to encourage natural foraging behaviors. I was privileged to walk, feed, and bathe one gentle elephant named Boon Ma, which quickly became the highlight of my trip. Being able to connect with Boon Ma and care for her was profoundly moving and emphasized the importance of rescue and rehabilitation missions like those of this sanctuary.

My final week allowed me to explore Thailand’s rich culture by visiting night markets, sampling street food, exploring temples, and visiting other sanctuaries. This immersive experience also included learning Thai phrases like “Chan Chue Saya” (my name is Saya) and polite expressions like “Kapunka Mak Mak Ka” (thank you so much), which helped deepen my connection with the people I met.

Coming from Iran, I have always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian without borders, committed to helping stray animal communities worldwide. This opportunity with the global programs gave me invaluable insight into how veterinary professionals can travel and positively impact communities abroad. The warmth and resilience of the Thai people, along with their innovative approaches to reusing resources and prioritizing preventive care, have inspired me greatly. This experience truly transformed me and strengthened my passion for veterinary work on a global scale.